this is a presentation about research i've been doing on using contemporary toys as a topic for investigation in the art classroom. topics for discussion, as well as activities, and a background on the moment is included. PLEASE DO NOT COPY WITHOUT PERMISSION.

1. toys investigating big ideas through Melissa Mudd

2. Across time and cultures humans have interacted with aesthetic and functional objects called toys.

3. The values, technology, and culture of the groups which produced these objects are mirrored in their functions and aesthetics.

4. The design, production, marketing, consumption, and use of these objects have a relationship to the arts that is both cyclical and symbiotic.

5. Toys, especially in the contemporary sense, are an aesthetic synthesis of visual culture themselves as well as an artifact of visual culture as a whole.

6. Contemporary Designer Toys: An Introduction

8. appropriated (and stolen) characters & images Folk art High culture References to local subcultures Low culture Pop Art Manga Comic books Kawaii Graffiti culture / street artists Anti-nostalgia D.I.Y. movements

9. “ In many ways the toys are a form of folk art, or pop art – folk art because many of the artists are not formally trained, and pop art because the toys appropriate aspects of popular culture in their design , but do so in a way that creates new objects that have aesthetics and meanings that far exceed the culture that they refer to.” – paul budnitz, kidrobot founder

11. They come in all shapes, sizes, and of course… C O L O R S

23. Particular trends

24. DIY BLANK TOYS

26. Say hello to Munny.

34. munny gallery

35. plushies

36. custom plush toys

37. Ugly Dolls

38. platform toys, serial and limited editions

41. The Designer Toy Movement’s Major Players Artists & Companies you should know

42. Kidrobot Video clip Additional interview

43. Kidrobot

44. Toy 2 R source

45. Max Toy Company

46. Wonderwall

47. Friends With You

48. Super7 Toys Art & Design

49. Amos Toys

50. Michael Lau Art

51. Jamungo

52. Kaching Brands

53. Munky King

54. Mind Style

55. Medicom

56. Muttpop

57. Ugly Dolls

58. Red Magic

59. Secret Base

60. Strange Co

61. Adfuncture

62. Tokidoki

63. investigating toys as a big idea in the art curriculum

67. Essential questions : multiple lenses

74. The art teacher can help students artistically and creatively investigate and express the big idea(s) by…

76. Possibilities for Art Making

79. potential project ideas

80. Communicative sketches & protoypes

82. toy design career research, interviews, journal entries

83. developmentally appropriate toy design problems

84. Designing toy prototypes

85. character design

86. munny design

87. plushie character from children’s drawing

88. conceptual age learner Connecting to the